SCIENCE 10: QUARTER 1 MODULE 1- TECTONIC PLATES Cut and Keep this Portion.

This is a summaized
Competencies: Describe and relate the distribution of active volcanoes,
earthquake epicenters, and major mountain belts to Plate Tectonic
Theory. S10ES-Ia-j-36.1
copy of your lesson. Herein are the key concepts
that you have learned. You may keep this as your
personal notes. No need to return to your teacher.

THE EARTHQUAKE EPICENTER

Epicenter- the point on the earth’s surface directly above
the focus of an earthquake.
Focus- the point of origin of an earthquake.
Fault- A fault is a fracture in rock where there has been
movement
Because of this difference in velocity between P and
S waves, the distance of earthquake epicenter from
the recording station can be determined. If they have
data from three recording stations, the exact position
of an earthquake epicenter can be located using the
triangulation method.
Triangulation Method- uses distance information from
three seismic stations to locate the earthquake
epicenter.
How?
On a map, circles are drawn around each seismic
station. The radii of the circles are scaled to the
estimated distance from the station to the earthquake.
The three circles will intersect at one point that locates
the earthquake.
Key Concepts of the lesson:
• In order to locate the epicenter of an earthquake,
you need to determine the time interval between the
arrival of the P and S waves (the S-P interval) on the
seismograms from at least three different stations.
You have to measure the interval to the closest
second and then use a graph (Distance-time graph)
to convert the S-P interval to the epicentral distance.
• Once you have the epicentral distances, you can
draw circles to represent each distance on a map.
The radius of each circle corresponds to the epi-
central distance for each seismic recording station.
Once you have drawn all three circles and located
the point where all three intersect, you will have
successfully located (triangulated) the epicenter of
the earthquake

SAN MIGUEL NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE 10 SCORE

Name Date
Grade/Section Remark
Directions: Read the questions carefully. Write the letter of the correct answer on the space
before each number.
__________1. You were asked to locate the epicenter of a recent earthquake. Which correct
sequence of events should you follow?
i. Determine the difference in the arrival time of S and P waves
recorded from each of the seismological stations.
ii. Use the triangulation method to locate the center.
iii. Obtain data from three different seismological stations.
iv. Determine the distance of the epicenter from the station.
A. i, iii, ii, iv B. iii, i, iv, ii C. iii, iv, i, ii D. iv, ii, i, iii
__________2. You were provided with data showing the arrival time of the P and S-waves
recorded from three seismic stations. Which of these can you possibly determine?
A. the damage at the focus C. the intensity of the earthquake
B. the distance to the earthquake D. the location of the epicenter
__________3. How many seismograph stations are needed to locate the epicenter of an
earthquake?
A. 1 B. 2 C. 3 D. 4
__________4. What location does the first motion of an earthquake occur?
A. Epicenter B. focus C. mantle D. seismic gap
__________5. Which of the following method is used to locate the earthquake epicenter?
A. Triangle method C. Triangulation Method
B. Scientific Method D. Navigational Method